Jack’s Helping Hand

Jack’s Helping Hand is the inspiration behind the Running Warehouse’s Pozo 5k (held every Fourth of July at the historic Pozo Saloon, this year’s race recap can be found here). While gathering for some holiday morning sweat has its benefits, doing so for Jack’s Helping Hand make the efforts to organize the event each year particularly rewarding.

Jack Ready, like many kids, learned to love watching cartoons and playing games. Unlike most kids, Jack needed assistance to do these things while he also waged a battle with a rare form of brain cancer.

In memory of their son, Paul and Bridget Ready started Jack’s helping hand in an attempt to make sure San Luis Obispo County’s children and their families, who are inflicted with the life’s unexpected circumstances, get the support they need to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

Jack’s Helping Hand helps these families with support from all angles. From support for treatment related equipment, technology, travel and other unique needs to community development and networking between families facing similar difficulties, Jack’s Helping Hand brings hope to those where hope might be otherwise lost.

In Jack's Memory, countless kids and families are helped.

Jack’s Helping Hand has also been instrumental in building an infrastructure within the county to support those with special needs. The organization has developed toy libraries so that families can find special toys for their kids while saving money for other essentials. They have advocated for expanded pediatric cancer treatment within the county so that less children have travel for their treatment. They are in the process of building The Jack Ready Imagination Park, a place for all kids to stay active with play structures, sports fields, and an equestrian center that is accessible to all.

If you are a San Luis Obispo County resident and your family or a family you know of can use Jack’s Helping Hand, applications are here.